A Mercedes-Benz dealership in Texas has reportedly handed out a printed copy of an article detailing the latest Tesla Autopilot recall, which was introduced by the Nationwide Freeway Visitors Security Administration (NHTSA) final week.
Tesla instantly deployed a software program replace to repair points said within the recall, which was introduced on Wednesday after a roughly two-year NHTSA investigation into Autopilot. Following the repair, nonetheless, one Mercedes-Benz dealership in Houston, Texas, was caught apparently giving a buyer a printed handout of the story from CNN, as shared by one consumer within the Tesla Membership of Better Houston group on Fb on Sunday (through X consumer BrianX2023).
Within the unique submit, the creator writes {that a} pal with a Tesla Mannequin Y Efficiency was given the printed article when bringing her Mercedes into the seller for a service appointment, alongside a enterprise card from salesperson Christopher O’banion on the Mercedes of Houston Greenway location. You’ll be able to see the photograph of the printed article and enterprise card under, as shared on X.
Wow that’s simply unhappy Mercedes. pic.twitter.com/LT4M5dawwV
— Brian G (@BrianX2023) December 16, 2023
To make sure, the transfer is a reasonably weird one, and it appears to point the dealership’s considerations about competitors from Tesla, particularly contemplating that the aforementioned “recall” was already fastened with an replace. It’s not clear if the article is being handed out to a number of clients, or simply this one who already owns a Tesla. In any case, nonetheless, it seems fairly unusual coming from an official Mercedes seller.
On the time of writing, the salesperson listed on the enterprise card, Christopher O’banion, has not responded to Teslarati’s emailed request for remark.
The time period “recall” has been extensively criticized by these within the Tesla neighborhood for being inaccurate, particularly in circumstances the place the problems are fastened immediately with an replace somewhat than needing to be introduced right into a service heart to be fastened.
Whereas the sweeping NHTSA recall discover utilized to over two million Tesla automobiles, the automaker deployed a free over-the-air (OTA) software program replace on Wednesday to deal with the problems, which the company mentioned had been associated to Autopilot’s Autosteer system not checking sufficient on driver attentiveness. The replace debuted extra security checks and controls for Autopilot to remind drivers to proceed paying consideration, as detailed under from the recall discover.
“Without charge to clients, affected automobiles will obtain an over-the-air software program treatment, which is predicted to start deploying to sure affected automobiles on or shortly after December 12, 2023, with software program model 2023.44.30. Remaining affected automobiles will obtain an over-the-air software program treatment at a later date.
“The treatment will incorporate extra controls and alerts to these already present on affected automobiles to additional encourage the driving force to stick to their steady driving duty every time Autosteer is engaged, which incorporates retaining their fingers on the steering wheel and taking note of the roadway.
“Relying on automobile {hardware}, the extra controls will embrace, amongst others, growing the prominence of visible alerts on the consumer interface, simplifying engagement and disengagement of Autosteer, extra checks upon participating Autosteer and whereas utilizing the function outdoors managed entry highways and when approaching visitors controls, and eventual suspension from Autosteer use if the driving force repeatedly fails to show steady and sustained driving duty whereas the function is engaged.”
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